Vehicle-spring.



. c; A; BOREHAM.

VEHICLE SPRING. APPLIOATIOII PIELED MAR. 10, 1913.

1,082,794. Patented Dec. 30; 1913.

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WITNESSES: INVENTOR UNITED STATES ANT FIQ.

CHARLES A. BOREHAM, OF- COALINGA, CALIFORNIA.

VEHICLE-SPRIN Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. BOREHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Coalinga, in the county of Fresno and State of California, ful Improvements in Vehicle-Springs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a laminated leafspring construction.

The object of this invention is to provide an elliptical spring of the multi-leaf type, which shall be more durable,

manufacture, and higher in efliciency than the present form of springs now generally 15 used.

The lnvention consists of the parts and construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed,

having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1. is a side elevation of the spring. Fig. 2'is a section of same, partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the inner end of a leaf-spring, showing the intcrlocking means.

T he purpose of this invention is to provi 1* a multi-leaf-spring, which is particularly adapted for use in connection with vehicles. In constructing laminated springs of this type it is very essential that the plates or lea vcs in the spring should decrease on a regular scale of lengths, in order that the springma-y be of equal strength throughout and of sufficient flexibility to yieldingly supportthe load under all conditions. It happens, however, that the mostcarefully de-, signed and constructed springlwill snap one or more leaves when subjected to more than.

any of the well-known varieties such aselliptical, semi elliptical, scroll, etc. I have here shown the spring A constructed as semi-elliptical, which consists of a segment formed of a number of centrally divided leaves or blades 2, arranged to be attached have invented new and usecheaper of i Y the leaf .as no matter where the leaf is broken at the bottom to the axle in the usual mannerby a suitable clamp 3, and by the two extremities of the are, through suitable links or shackles 4 to the body above the axle.

he lnner ends of the leaves are secured in the clamp 3 and are provided with interlocking grooves or ridges 5 which interlock with each other, for the purpose of further securing the independent leaf sections with relation to 'each other. The lower ridge 5* is adapted to interlock with a corresponding clamp section, thus,

groove 3* in the lower providing a positive locking means between sections and the clamp, independent of the clamping action of same; thus absolutely preventing the removal of any section without first detaching the clamp.

The clamping plates have grooves formed across their outer ends, and rods 6 fit these grooves and bear upon the springs, when the clamping bolts 7 are secured at each side of the springs between the ends and center.

In general practice when removing a broken leaf from the usual leaf-spring, it is invariably found that the leaf is broken either on one side or another ofthe center; this, however, makes very little difi'erenre,

it ecomes necessary to replace it with a whole new leaf. By constructing a centrally .divided leaf-spring, as shown in Fig. 2, it can easily be seen that it will only be necessary to replace a half-leaf in case of breakage, thus materially reducing the repair cost. Furthermore, by leaves in interlocking half-sections, as shown, greater durability and efliciency may be secured, as much better results may be obtained constructing the several when tempering the half-leaf section here shown,-as compared with the longer section usually employed.

he spring here shown is similar in appearance to the jusual'form of spring, and takes no more space than same. The material and finish of the several parts are such as experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. In a leaf spring of the character described, a series of two-part superposed leaves abutting at their meeting ends, each of said ends having transverse concavoconvex bends and comprising clamps engaging ends of the springs,

ing each section whereby the superposed leaf sections are interlocked and held in their relative positions.

2. In a leaf spring of the character described, a series of two part leaves abutting at their meetin ends and having concavoconvex interloc in bends, clamping plates extending in each direction across the meetwith transverse grooves across their outer ends, cylindrical rods lying in said grooves and bearing upon the springs, and bolts passing through the clamp;';.plates and the springs, said lower clamp plate having grooves engaging the convexities of the two lowermost spring 15 members.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set m hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES A. BOREHAM. Witnesses HARRY LEISZ', H. R. Cnozmn. 

